Guiding Principles

The traditional Raiffeisen values form the foundation for the activities of all Raiffeisen organizations and they are also an important point of reference in the design of its corporate responsibility.

As one of the first responsible bankers, Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen showed that a sustainably managed circulation of money can create value and be meaningful for everyone involved. Social and responsible thinking and actions formed the basis of this strategy. The Raiffeisen values – social solidarity, self-help and sustainability – have therefore always been the guiding principles for doing business at Raiffeisen.

We understand the financial services sector in which we operate as being an important supporter and driver of sustainable development for our society. Doing business oriented toward sustainability has been a practiced reality and matter of course since Raiffeisen was founded over 125 years ago.

Sustainability Guiding Principles

Our Sustainability Vision

We should become a leading group of companies with regard to sustainability and corporate responsibility in the medium-term.

In order to fulfil our responsibility as a regional and international banking group in all criteria for sustainable development, we have made our commitment to sustainability broader and more complete. In 2010, we started to develop a systematic sustainability management system.

The core of our current sustainability strategy reads: “We create sustainable value." The strategy lays out our short, medium and long-term goals in the form of nine strategic and operational core areas.

We focus on actions that have a large potential for effective sustainable development and which are considered to be important by us as well as our stakeholders.

The strategy is built on Raiffeisen values and defines a clear path. In order to create sustainable value for our stakeholders in times of global interdependence and highly variable social, ecological and economic framework conditions, we focus on three key matters, which we have formulated as our contribution to sustainable development: value creation, trust and transformation.

Our Sustainability strategy framework

Value creation

Value creation means we want to secure the long-term success as a regional and international banking and corporate group through sustainable value creation, and encourage the competitiveness and innovation capacity of companies, organisations and public institutes.

Trust

For us, trust is an important prerequisite for successful banking. We can build on the existing trust of our customers, employees, stakeholders and other key groups. There is, however, no guarantee. To maintain this trust requires effort and for it to be earned. Sustainable management, fair and transparent business and operating practices and involving our stakeholder groups in sustainable development are central building blocks in this regard.

Transformation

Transformation means that we want to play an active role in addressing major societal challenges, particularly where we can make a difference. Our role as a social stakeholder means enabling and maintaining sustainability and wellbeing in society as well as possible. Through our commitment to sustainability as a socially responsible business, we want to contribute to the development of an environmentally friendly society and a civil society supported by sustainable entrepreneurship.

We trade in all business fields with the aim of being a responsible banker, a fair partner and a engaged citizen.

Responsible banker

We are a responsible group of companies, which is also reflected in our products, services and processes. The core business is the most effective lever for sustainable development.Therefore we believe that the granting of loans and investment of funds represent a primary responsibility and the most important fields of action for creating sustainable success and economies. In all of our areas of business and products, we strive to build long-term profitable business relations, while avoiding social and environmental risks, embracing opportunities to improve environmental protection and social standards.

Fair partner

We treat stakeholder groups (employees, customers, shareholders and other stakeholders) as fair business and dialogue partners. Within the framework of our business and operating practices we lay great value on responsibility and sustainability and consider ourselves partners that have fair and valuable interactions with its stakeholders. Transparency: reporting on our commitment to sustainability and publishing measurable targets, measures and achieved goals, is a central general management principle.

Another is responsible and fair practices in marketing, sales and contracts. We foster and promote open and constructive dialogue with our stakeholders. We want to understand the expectations of our most important stakeholders and direct our opportunities accordingly.

Engaged citizen

We consider ourselves to be an engaged citizen. As such, we are actively involved in the sustainable development of our society. Our commitment to corporate citizenship extends beyond its core business to aims such as addressing social problems, promoting sustainable business and protecting the environment, as well as supporting cultural life and an open civil society. Diversity, tolerance and a strong focus on people are the mainstay of our efforts to bring about forward-thinking developments in society.